If you’re considering adding satellite internet to your home or business for the first time, you probably have a lot of questions: Will it even work on my home? What equipment do I need to get it? And what’s the installation process like?
If you have a clear view of the southern sky, satellite internet can likely be successfully installed on your home or business. If you’re renting your property, check with your landlord before calling a Viasat sales representative to be sure it’s ok to add a satellite dish to your unit.
Viasat prides itself not only on a quality internet service, but a professional installation to provide a great customer experience from day one.
While some companies are urging customers to self-install their equipment and service, Viasat sends a trained professional to each customer’s home to launch the service.
Viasat has very strict mounting guidelines that could impact the installation. To ensure those guidelines are met, they will do a pre-installation site survey.
If a site doesn’t have a clear view to the satellite, a technician may trim bushes or trees to get that needed angle. Viasat installers carry special equipment for unique installations and will work with the customer to find the one that works best for both quality of service and aesthetics.
And if you don’t want the dish permanently installed on your home or business, it can typically be installed to a 4-foot pole mount instead, which will be in the ground near the home.
Technicians are experienced & prepared
Satellite internet customers don’t need to provide any equipment. Our technicians not only bring the dish, modem and cables that will remain on site at the customer’s home, they also bring all the tools they need to do the job, resolve any unexpected issues that may arise and answer each customer’s questions.
Viasat technicians are prepared with tools as well as know-how. Our certified technicians undergo extensive training before their first installation, and receive ongoing instruction throughout their careers. That helps them keep up with all pertinent federal, state and national standards, ensuring the job is not only compliant but safe.
On average, our technicians have been in the field for two years, so they’re also experienced. While one customer’s situation may seem unique, it’s likely a scenario they’ve already encountered.
Customers can count on their skill to do the job right, and their training and experience to answer any questions they may have.
The equipment they’ll bring typically includes a satellite antenna dish, transceiver and bracket assembly, modem and wireless router (typically in one device), and if you’ve ordered phone service and one is not already included in your modem, a VoIP phone adapter. The technician will also bring cable, and if needed to mount the dish, a pole. Plus, they’re fully equipped with ladders, drills, cables, zip ties and all other required tools – as well as additional items needed to resolve any unexpected issues. These tools are specific to the job, and ones that customers don’t typically have.
Here’s how the installation process works:
· After ordering the service and scheduling the installation, a certified technician will come to the customer’s house to complete the install, which typically takes 2-3 hours. In addition to extensive training, a professional installer also uses a specific app designed to align your dish precisely with the satellite, avoiding interference with any nearby antenna frequencies. That helps ensure the strongest internet connection and reduces the need for service calls in the future.
· Our technician will work with the customer to determine where the equipment should be installed. The dish is typically attached to the side of the home, the roof or a securely installed pole near the house. Mount styles for the dish may vary according to a home’s orientation to the satellite, the trees that surround it and homeowner preferences. For instance, if a homeowner doesn’t want the dish visible on the roof, our installers can often mount the dish to a pole in the ground, a wall on the side of the house or another location.
· Once the dish is installed and the technician has run the necessary cables neatly along the outside of the home, the technician will then come inside to set up the modem.
· The technician will connect the Viasat modem to a computer, initialize the service, and check to be sure the system is working properly. He or she will show you where your Wi-Fi network is, help select a password and explain how to connect your devices. The installer can also help you find the best spot for the modem, and make suggestions to maximize Wi-Fi coverage in your home.
· The installer will clean up the work area, leaving only your new service behind.
After the install
Finally, the installation includes a 90-day warranty. That means if something isn’t working right in the first 90 days of service, our installer will come back to fix it at no charge. Installers are available any time after the 90 days as well, though those visits may require a service charge.
Occasionally, strong winds or other unusual circumstances can affect a dish’s alignment. An intermittent or fading signal is often the first indication of a misaligned dish. In such instances, a Viasat technician can typically realign or move the satellite dish to help restore signal integrity.
To avoid any post-installation service charges, customers can also purchase EasyCare. EasyCare gives customers an extra level of affordable service protection.
The benefits include:
· No charge for required service calls (normally $95 each)
· Reduced fee on annual dish relocation (normally $200). If requested, an installer will move your Viasat dish to a different location at the same service address once a year for $95
· Priority customer support through the EasyCare dedicated support line